Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,59

anyway. I also ask that you not punish Nathaniel and Noah or even my mother for my stupidity. It’s not their fault. I acted on my own.”

“Noted.”

Adam scuffed his boot along the pine board. “And I mean to ask Riley to forgive me, too. I was full of myself. Decided my impulsive thought was the only way. I never expected to fall in love with her.”

“Which brings us back to love. Sentimentality only makes a man weak.”

“Weak? I think loving Riley makes me a better man, not a weaker one. I can see how I failed to measure up, how I failed to be the man she needed me to be.” He shot a glance at his stepfather. “That’s why I’d already decided not to push Riley to go through with marrying me so I could claim Running Creek. I’m not saying a pretend engagement was wise, but a sham marriage would have been a far worse decision.”

“You have some strange notions of right and wrong.” Declan shook his head.

“I am giving it all up now. It’s in God’s hands. And yours.”

The man chuckled, but there was no humor. “You know I don’t put much stock in God. If He and I agree on anything, it’s purely a coincidence.”

Adam wanted to tell his stepdad that God was bigger than happenstance. That He could bring Declan around to His way of thinking. No point in pushing the topic, though. Not now. “I understand.”

“You’re a liar and a cheat.” Declan tone turned conversational.

A wannabe cheat, but this wasn’t the time to split hairs. Adam hung his head. “I know, sir.”

“Interesting to see you so humble.”

Another goad Adam could ignore, difficult as it was.

“What are you going to do?

Did he have a choice? Was his stepfather kicking him to the curb… or not? “Some of that is up to you, sir. But I need to find Riley and make sure she knows I’ve come to love her with no strings attached. I don’t know if she’ll still have me, but I have to try.”

“Love.”

Adam met his stepdad’s gaze. “Yes, sir. I learned about love from my parents when I was no taller than a toad. I learned about it in Sunday school down at Creekside Fellowship. I learned that God loved me enough to send His Son to die for me. To redeem me. And I want to prove to Riley that I love her that much, too. Enough to sacrifice everything.”

“If you’re trying to influence me, it won’t work.”

“That’s not why.” Although he wouldn’t say no to it. Come to think of it, Declan hadn’t said exactly which way he was leaning.

“Well, then, have at it.” Declan pulled the door open and walked out into a dull, gray afternoon. The door swung back and clicked shut.

Adam turned into the cabin and ran both hands through his hair as he dropped to his knees in front of the leather sofa. “Oh, Lord, please forgive me and guide me. I’m in so far over my head, and I don’t know how to swim in this current. But, most of all, please be with Riley. Protect her, Lord. Help her to trust You... and to love me, anyway.”

Because now that she’d left the ranch, he knew she was more important to him than nearly everything. More than Running Creek. But not more than his faith and honor.

He’d lay it out for her, but it was her decision if she’d return and marry him for real. Even without a ranch to call their own.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Riley scanned the crowd surging around the baggage claim in the Santa Fe airport, while Jodie watched for her garish pink suitcase. Riley didn’t own that much. Everything was in her backpack except the stuff she’d left behind in October.

Where was Mom? Maybe Dad was worse, and she couldn’t leave his side. Maybe Riley and her sister would need to take the shuttle into the city. Maybe...

Riley focused on dark eyes meeting her own, and her breath hitched. Oh, no. Mom had sent Raul.

He grinned at her like a feral cat sizing up a mouse.

How had Raul managed to stay in her parents’ good graces? Didn’t Riley’s word mean anything? Not that she’d given details, but it should have been a big clue when Riley refused to allow her mother to speak Raul’s name. So, thanks, Mom. There was no other way he’d have known what flight she was on.

Riley whirled away, breaking eye contact, and collided with Jodie hoisting her monstrosity